The Works of Charles Dickens (Volume 13-14)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1868. Excerpt: ... memory and trustworthiness, many commendations selected from among the most remarkable opinions of the celebrated Mrs. Harris, he descended to the little room prepared for him, and pulling off his coat and his boots, put them outside the door before he locked it. In locking it, he was careful so to adjust the key, as to baffle any curious person who might try to peep in through the keyhole; and when he had taken these precautions, he sat down to his supper. 'Mr. Chuff, ' he muttered, 'it 'll be pretty easy to be even with you. It's of no use doing things by halves, and as long as I stop here, I 'll take good care of you. When I'm off you may say what you please. But it's a d--d strange thing, ' he added, pushing away his untouched plate, and striding moodily to and fro, 'that his drivellings should have taken this turn just now.' After pacing the little room from end to end several times, he sat down in another chair. 'I say just now, but for anything I know, he may have been carrying on the same game all along. Old dog! He shall be gagged!' He paced the room again in the same restless and unsteady way; and then sat down upon the bedstead, leaning his chin upon his hand, and looking at the table. When he had looked at it for a long time, he remembered his supper; and resuming the chair he had first occupied, began to eat with great rapacity: not like a hungry man, but as if he were determined to do it. He drank too, roundly; sometimes stopping in the middle of a draught to walk, and change his seat and walk again, and dart back to the table and fall to, in a ravenous hurry, as before. It was now growing dark. As the gloom of evening, deepening into night, came on, another dark shade emerging from within him seemed to overspread his face, and slowly change it. Slowly, slowly; darker an...